Pandemic history: Lucky to be survivor of 1957

I’ve always considered myself somewhat lucky. But I only recently found out just how early fortune smiled upon me when I serendipitously discovered I had somehow dodged my first pandemic way back in 1957, the year I turned 7.

I made this most unexpected discovery just the other day while casually perusing the schedule on C-Span3, aka American History TV.

On it there’s a feature aptly named “Reel America,” which contains hundreds of old historical films on nearly every subject under the sun.

This week I came across one titled “The Silent Invader” - 1957. The film tells the story of a flu pandemic 63 years ago, which some health officials are now comparing to our current coronavirus.

It also avers the 1957 Pandemic killed about a million worldwide and 116,000 in the U.S. (concurring with CDC stats). Hence I found the film irresistible.

Little did I suspect this old flick would limn our current pandemic so closely. Which makes me wonder: Will history repeat itself here, or only rhyme?

But why worry now? Que sera, sera, right?

Stay safe. Stay home. Study history.

This story was originally published April 2, 2020 at 9:19 AM with the headline "Pandemic history: Lucky to be survivor of 1957."